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Review: Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Title: Stupid Fast
Author: Geoff Herbach
Year Published: 2011

Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 311
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location (my 2014 Google Reading map)USA (Iowa)

FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): My name is Felton Reinstein, which is not a fast name. But last November, my voice finally dropped and I grew all this hair and then I got stupid fast. Fast like a donkey. Zing! Now they want me, the guy they used to call Squirrel Nut, to try out for the football team. With the jocks. But will that fix my mom? Make my brother stop dressing like a pirate? Most important, will it get me girls--especially Aleah? So I train. And I run. And I sneak off to Aleah's house in the night. But deep down I know I can't run forever. And I wonder what will happen when I finally have to stop.

Review: The summary above is a pretty good description of this book and gives you a sense of Felton's voice. He is honest, blunt, and scared. He is scared of himself, girls, his mom, and his past, all of which are combining the summer he turns 16. This book is so refreshing.

I loved reading this book and hearing Felton think it all through. It's a quick read because when it gets into the deep stuff, the writing stays light so it isn't depressing. Felton is just doing the best he can to hold it all together while his body (and friendship circle) changes. The author did a great job of capturing those changes--both physical and emotional--while entertaining the reader and not making light of what's happening.

This isn't just a book about being fast. Or football. Or dating. Or growing up. There is also a lot more, but I can't say what it is or the story will be ruined. Anyway, this was a fun book to read as my first of 2015!

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